Date of Award

8-1-2015

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Rottinghaus, Patrick

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between coping style and academic satisfaction, as well as the role each plays in overall life satisfaction. Further, this study examined the potential utility of coping style within Lent and Brown’s (2006) social cognitive career theory (SCCT) model of work satisfaction. A sample of students in a university setting took a measure to assess coping style, academic satisfaction, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, and goal progress. Results indicated that both problem-focused and avoidance coping styles predicted academic satisfaction individually. Only for problem-focused coping was this relation strong enough for academic satisfaction to partially mediate the direct effect on life satisfaction. Coping styles did not explain variance above and beyond the SCCT variables of goal progress and self-efficacy. This study supports the existing model of work satisfaction in SCCT, and offers preliminary evidence for full mediation of coping styles’ effects on satisfaction by stress and goal progress.

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